Combined plastic tie and clip



Oct. 28, 1941. c. HjGlBBs ET Al.

COMBINED PLAKSTIC TIE AND CLI,

Filed Dec. 25, 1939 yen/ans* @Mx/44 Patented oa. 2s, 1941 2,260,615

2,260,615 COlVIBINED PLASTIC TIE AND CLIP Charles H. Gibbs and gelliion A. Large,'0ak1and,

Application December z3, 1939, serial No. 310,724

5 Claims.

This invention a plastic tie and clip forms a"M reinforcement between the unsupported edges of plaster board which is currently used as a substitute for wood or metal lath, and ties the adjacent edges of the boards together in such`5 manner that a rigid structure is created which elir'ninatesthe possibility of cracks forming in the plaster coating applied over the boards.

As currently used, this plaster board is supplied in the form of slabs about 48 X 16 inohesr()V about inch thick, and these boards are usually applied to studs on 16 inch centers by nailing. This results in unconnected joints along the coincident ledges of two boards between two studs, and, after the plaster coats are appliedp when pressure is brought to bear on area overj lying one edge and not extending to the edge l of the adjacent board, a crack results along the crack between the boards because the plaster is y comparatively weak in shear, and the edge ofgo the one board is deilected while the other remains undeflected. For this reason plaster board has not enjoyed the success commercially to which it should be entitled, since these cracks are very unsightly, particularly in homes andg structures of high quality and special beauty and richness. VWith this invention incorporated in the Wall structure, a crack-proof Wall is assured, since the free edges of the boards are firmly bound to-@go gether and the surrounding area is well reinforced, so that, pressure applied to one edge is transferred to the other adjacent edge with almost equal intensity, and the plaster is not there- Yfore subjected to shear stresses, and uniiorm35 rigidity is provided throughout the entire area of the wall,

The objects and advantages of this invention are as follows:

First; to provided a method and means forgo tying together and reinforcing rthe free edges of plaster board so as to prevent cracking of plaster applied thereto.

Second; to provide a method and means as outlined in which the reinforcing is applicablefi either during or `following application of the plaster board to the studs.

Third; to provided a method and means as outlined which will be effective in discouraging ing on the board.

Fourth; to provided a method and means as outlined in which the adjacent free edges of paster boards are mechanically bound together and also reinforced andplaster-bound, V55

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference charactersV are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tie element including clip and reinforcement.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through two adj acent sheets of plaster board showing the inven- .tion applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 with the exception that the plaster coat is shown applied to the upper portion and thereby illustrating the reinforcing and bonding action.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a portion of a Wall with plaster board and the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 5 is a modification showing the invention made to cover a greater length of the joint and secured by a plurality of keys or locking ele- A ments.

Fig. 6 is a modification of the invention in y which the Wire isbent back upon itself at both ends and in which the shank consists of only one thickness of the wire.

Fig. 'l is another modification in which the keying element consists of an expanding spring member.

The plaster board sheets I0 have their ends abutting upon and attached to a stud II as indicated at I2, and are intermediately attached to equally-spaced studs I3 and I4. The next adjacent series of boards I5 and the preceding series I0 have their adjacent side edges I6 unsupported between the studs, so that, after the plaster I'I is applied as indicated by the patch I8, if pressure is brought to bear against either p area I9 or 20 alone, either one or the other of the board edges will be deflected While the other remains substantially undeflected and a crack will develop as indicated at 2|. This crack is not only unsightly, but seriously affects the value of the property and is a source of dust and dirt.

This invention is designed to overcome these undesirable consequences and results by forming the two adjacent side edges into a unitary structure, and comprises a method and means through the medium of which the adjacent edges skimping of plaster used as a superposed coat- 50 `space left between the adjacent edges so well of the boards are firmly locked together'and the reinforced that when pressure is applied to one area 20, so that both of the adjacent edges will deflect together and equally and thus effect a common flex to the plaster coating II of greatly diminished intensity and thereby prevent the cracks 2U from developing.

In the preferred form, the invention consists of a section of reinforcement 22 which may consist of expanded metal lath as shown, or other suitable material such as perforated metal, to which is attached a key or locking element 23,V which is preferably formed of wire bent as shown to form` an insertible head portion 24, a shank portion 25 and foot portions 26; the foot portions being affixed to the reinforcement as indicated atV 2l, as by spot welding.

With this invention, after the plaster board is applied, the head 24 is inserted through the crack or space 28 between adjacent boards after which the reinforcement is rotated 90 so that the head 24 will be positioned crosswse of the space 28 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. This locks the edges of the two boards together. One of these' elements is applied between each pair of adjacent side edges of boards between each pair of studs,- as shown at 29, 30, 3| and 32.

After all of the free edges of the boards are tied together, the plaster I1 is applied in the usual manner and which forms an efficient bond with the plaster board and locks the reinforcement and the locking element into a rigid mass rigidly tying the edges together. If the reinforcement measures about six inches diagonally, it will provide sufficient strength and rigidity, leaving thus only about four inches between each stud and the closest portion of the rein-` general increase in rigidity throughout the extent of walls and ceilings.

It will be understood that Variations in the method employed, and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which variations are con.. sistent with the appended claims may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacricing any of the advantages thereof.

We claim:

l. A reinforcing element comprising; a small I section of expanded metal lath and a key element of through the medium of the attached stripm ing or other suitable means as indicated at 38:"

With this type of locking means, a pair of pliers 39 may be used to pinch the legs together as indicated by the dotted lines 40 for insertion into the crack 28, after which the pliers are removed and the key pushed through; the legs expanding to their normal divergent position and locking the reinforcement in place.

These devices coincidentally form a telltale for skimpy plaster coat, since the plaster must be applied sumciently thick to cover the reinforcement and also the foot portions 26 which would show through if the plaster was not of proper thickness.

Thus the adjoining edges of plaster board lath are securely tied together, the weak unsupported edges of the boards are reinforced, and cracking of plaster is prevented.

The tying and reinforcing means is easily and quickly applied to the mounted plaster board, and application of the invention results in a IVliOf secured to the lath, said key element comprising a shank rotatable between the unsupported edges of mounted plaster board and projecting from the approximate center of one face of said lath and having a length substantially equal to the thickness of the plaster board and terminating in an elongated head connected to said shank and insertible through the space between the unsupported edges of the mounted plaster board and rotatable to a position at right angles to said unsupported edges through manual rotation of said small section, said shank having its point of juncture with said head at the approximate center of the length of the head.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said section of expanded metal lath is rectangular in shape with a maximum diagonal diameter of six inches, and in which said head has its longitudinal axis in alignment with one of the diagonal axes of said section, whereby equal reinforcement-is applied along said unsupported edges and at right angles thereto when said head is located in full locking position at right angles to said unsupported edges.

3. A reinforcing element for the adjacent unsupported edges of mounted plaster board comprising; a key element having an elongated head insertible through the crack between the adjacent edges and a shank having one end joining said head at the approximate center of the length of the head, with said shank extending therefrom in the same plane at right angles to the underside of the head and having a length substantially equal to the thickness of the plaster board and terminating at its other end in a foot member; a comparatively small square of expanded metal lath; said shank projecting centrally from one face of said lath, said foot member being fixed to said lath and extending substantially equal distances in both directions from said shank with one of the diagonal axes of said lath in line with said head; whereby said head is insertible through said crack and manually rotatable to a position at right angles to said crack through the medium of said expanded metal lath to simultaneously lock said reinforcing element between the opposite faces of said plaster board and locate said metal lath in a position in which the maximum length of the unsupported edges is reinforced and equal reinforcement is provided in a direction at right angles to the edges through the diagonal position of said expanded metal lath.

4. A reinforcing element for the adjacent unsupported edges of mounted plaster board comprising; a length of wire having its central portion formed into an elongated loop head member insertible through the crack between said unsupported edges; the remaining portions of said wire being bent at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the looped member and centrally of the length thereof and extending in parallel therefrom to form a shank having a length slightly greater than the thickness of the plaster boards and continuing to form foot members; a rectangular section of expanded metal lath; said shank extending through one of the existent passages centrally of said lath and being bent at right angles in opposite directions to lie at on the outside face of the lath and being secured thereto with the elongated head member in axial alignment with one of the diagonal axes of the section of lath, whereby following insertion of the head member through the crack between adjacent unsupported edges of mounted plaster board, manual rotation of the lath Section to a position in which the other of the diagonal axes is in line with said unsupported edges will place said head member at right angles to said edges to lock the reinforcing element in position, and the reinforcing effect of said expanded metal lath will be at a maximum at right angles to said unsupported edges and Will extend the reinforcement along said unsupported edges a maximum distance relative to the area of the section of lath.

5. A reinforcing element for the unsupported adjacent edges of plaster board and applicable thereto after the boards are mounted, comprising; a rectangular section of expanded metal latch having a diagonal diameter not to exceed six inches; a wire having its end portions bent at right angles in opposite directions to form foot members and with the portions adjoining the foot members in parallel to form a shank, with the foot members secured to the lath and with the shank projecting through the central portion of the lath and extending therebeyond a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the plaster board and the remaining central portion of the Wire being formed into an oblong loop at right angles to the shank and in line with one of the diagonal axes of the lath and projecting equalh7 in both directions from its point of juncture with the shank; said loop being insertible through the crack between the unsupported edges and rotatable to a position at right angles thereto c through manual rotation of said lath to locate the lath with its diagonal axes extending along the crack and at right angles thereto when the loop is in locking position at right angles to the crack.

CHARLES H. GIBBS. VERNON A. LARGE. 

